kintner



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

OJ. KINTNER. ELECTRIC OONDUIT.

No. 545,296. ,Pyented Ailg. 27, 1895.

2 SheetsSheet '2.

(No Model.)

0. J. KINTNER. ELEUTBIG GONDUIT.

No. 545,296. Patented Aug. 27,- 1895.

m/mmu UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. KINTNER,' OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC CONDUIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 545,296, dated August27, 1895.

App i n filed March 16. 189$ Serial No. 466,200. (No model.)

I" M whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES J.K1NTNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New. York and State of New York,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Conduits, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention is directed particularly to improvements in electricalconduits known in the art as interior or house conduits, and it has forits objects, first, to insure absolute safety to persons andproperty;second, to render the insulation of systems of interior or houseconduits more perfect; third, to make it possible to utilize the samesystem of conduits for the double purpose of electrical conduits 'andventilating-tubes, thereby cheapening the cost of both and insuring amore perfect insulation in the use of the former; fourth, to afford amore perfect union between adjacent sections of conducting conduit-tube;fifth, to surround the conducting portions of the dynamo or generatorwith a protectingcasing, which shall prevent any possibility of anaccident to the attendant or any otherperson during the time that thatmachineis run ning; sixth, to accomplish all of the functionsnecessarily attributable to the entire apparatus hereinafterdescribed,for a full and clear understanding of which reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional partelevational view taken through a building, illustrating anelectrical-illuminating-plant for the building with my improved systemof conduit and ventilating or heating tubes. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectionalview of the preferred form of combined ventilating or heating andconduit tube used by me; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectionalview of a short section of the same tubing, showing the interior orreturn conducting-Wire in position. Fig. 4 is an elevational view of theadjacent ends of a pair of conduit-tubes held together by my improveddetachable expansible connector; and Fig. 5 is across-sectional viewtaken through Fig. 4 on the line 5 5 and, as seen, looking in thedirection of the arrows from the top toward the bottom of the drawings.Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of my improvedexpansible detachable connector; and Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view ofmy improved protector for the conducting parts of a dynamo-electricmachine,

showing also a short portion of the concentric conduit and the inclosedmain, the commutator of the machine being shown in elevation, thedynamo-machine itself not being shown.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and first to Fig. 1, Drepresents a dynamo, E a steam-engine, H a boiler, and B a blower,

all located in the basement of a building, the

The upper end of the coil-pipe P is connected to an upwardly-extendingpipe P, of metal or other conducting material, running verticallythrough the upper stories of the building and provided with branchesrunning beneath the floors or behind the wainscoting and connected toelectroliers in various parts of the building.

to is a conductor connecting the pole of the dynamo D to the exteriorsurface of the main pipe P and the other pole thereof, through a switchS, to an insulated conductor located on the inside of the main pipe P,as shown in Fig. 3, the several branches being conveyed in the mannershown through outlying electroliers and connected to incandescent lampsor other translating devices having their opposite poles connecteddirectly to the outer casings of the electroliers or conduit-tubes P.These pipes Pand their subordinate branches, together with the mainpipes of the electroliers, should be of such dimensions as to convey therequired amountot' heated air for heating the rooms or of cold air forventilating them.

S S are stop-cocks, located at the bases of the electroliers foradmitting the hot or cold air into the rooms.

P is a branch pipe which shunts the coiled pipe and is provided with anywell-known form of dampers for this purpose, so that the air from theexterior of the building may be forced either through the coiled pipe Pand heated or may be forced directly through the branch P and thebuilding supplied with cold an.

In the form of conduit shown in Figs. 2 and 3, which is the preferredform, the main or air-conducting portion P is separate from the portionP the latter being hinged to the former by hinges h and provided withair inlets a of sufticient size toadmit of the free circulation of airin this portion of the conduit. If preferred, the conductor u; might beplaced directlyin the main conduit I, which would consistof an ordinarymetallic pipe running throughout the building, the joints all being ofsuch a nature as to insure good conductivity.

I may provide means for closing the apertures a in the nature of asliding damper, so that when it is desired to replace or repair theconductor to the draft or flow of air in the ventilating portion willnot be affected.

It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that owing tothe expansi bility of metal tubing good electrical conducting-jointsbetween the ends of the tubes cannot be maintained. I have thereforedovised an expansible detachable connector for joining successivesections of tubing together, as shown in Fig. at, wherein Z) is ametallic lug, preferably of copper, having a beveled or dovetailedextension d extending into the body of the conduit'tube, said lug beinglocated in position in the mold at the time the pipe is cast, so thatthe extension cl constitutes an integral part of the pipe. This lug bhas a dovetailed and beveled groove in its outer face, as clearly shownin Fig.5, adapted to receive a corresponding beveled dovetailedextension f, which in turn is integral with a spiral-shaped conductorsof large conducting capacity, there being, as clearly shown in Fig. 4-,a corresponding dovetailed extension fen the other end thereof adaptedto fit in a lug Z), secured to the end of the adjacent pipe, the same aswas the first-named lug b.

tand t are adjusting-screws in the upturned ends e of the lugs b b, thescrews being adapted to bear against the outer faces of the dovetailedextensions fand force them firmly into position, so as to make goodelectrical connection between the partsf and b. After the pipes arelocated in alignment these expansible detachable conductors may besprung into place and a good conducting-joint secured by turning thescrews i so as to force the beveled portions firmly against the innerdovetailed shoulders. The lugs 12 and also the intermediate expansibleconnector 3 and the parts f may be, if preferred, located on the insideof the conduit-tubes, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, and there maybe two or more pairs of such connectors between each pair of pipes. Thespiral form of the connector 8 may be a simple loop with enlargeddovetailed and beveled ends f, as clearly shown in Fig. 6.

My improved protector for the exposed parts of the dynamo-machine isshown in Fig. 7, in which E is a metallic box electrically secured tothe main or conduit pipe I and wholly surrounding the commutator K andcommutator-brushes c. w is the current main connected to one of thebrushes c, the surroupding conducting conduit-tube 1 being connected tothe other brush e. M is an electromagnet incloscd in the box B and socured thereto, said magnet being in a derived circuit to the workingcircuit and including the necessary adjustable rheostat R for regulatingthe amount of current required to operate it. a is an armature-lever,the free or hookedlike end of which is adapted to enter a metallic loopor eye it, secured to the under face of a door or lid F, the arrangementbeing such that when the dynamo is running and all of the translatingdevices receiving their necessary current-supply thearmature-lever C6 ofthe electromagnet M is caused to securely lock the door orlid F, so thataccess to thecon' ducting portions of the machine by the attendant orany other person is not possible. The comm utator-brushes e (2 may beprovided with the usual shifting devices accessible through means notinclosed in the box I that is to say, these brushes maybe attached tothe necessary brush-rocker extending into the box and in such mannerthat there is no possibility of current-shock to an attendant whileshifting the brushes. arrangement I am enabled to make the entire systemfrom the generator to the lamps or other translating devicesself-inclosed, so that there is no possibility of a dangerous shock toany one at any point whatever. As soon as the generator is stopped thearmaturelever a falls back and the lid F of the protecting-casing Z) maybe lifted and access had to the commutators. If desired, the lid i maybe attached directly to one of the commutator-brushes c by aconnectinglink Z, so that when it (the lid) is raised it will lift thebrush from the commutator, thereby pre- Venting the attendant fromstarting the generator when the lid is open and insuring safety to him.

I am aware thatit is broadly oldto increase the insulating capacity of aconduit by forcing heated or dry air through it, and I make noclaimhereinafter broad enough to include such a structure. I am notaware, however, that any one has heretofore so combined a system of hotor cold air pipes with electrical conductors that increased insulatingcapacity is effected and Ventilation or heating of the roomssimultaneously accomplished. Such a system insures much betterinsulation and a simple, cheap, and efficient method of ventilation,thus placing the lighting and heating of the apartments at a common orcentral point. Such an arrangement also affords other useful ends in theartsas, for instance, a supply of air under pressure wherever elcctrictranslating devices are located-and my claims contemplate, broadly, allsuch uses.

\Vith such an To illustrate, air under pressure at translat ing devicesmight be used in connection with electric welding apparatus, electricsoldering apparatus, electric furnaces, or in any analo- 5 gous way.

I do not limit myself to any special form of conducting pipes or tubes,nor to any particular arrangement or location of the interior conductorwhen combined with means To for forcing air through the tubes to theelectrical translating devices, as I believe that such a combined systemof electrical and ventilating apparatus is broadly new with me. Nor do Ilimit myself to the use of a dynamoelectric machine, as any electricalgenerator may be substituted therefor.

It is also obvious that dampers or other apparatus for regulating thefiowof the air may be located at various points throughout the system,and that the conduit-tubes may be provided with removable covers inorder to afford easy access to the interior conductors, and that theblower may be driven by any source of poweras, for instance, awater-motor or where the source of electrical supply is apart from thebu ilding-and where more than one of such motors are used they may belocated at various parts of the buildingas, for.

instance, at the branch tubes on the various floors, or any such placeas will be naturally suggested to the constructor.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A system of interior or house conduits, in combination with means forforcing air through said conduits and additional means located nearelectrical translating devices for regulating the flow of air at pointsnear said translating devices whereby improved insulation is effected inthe conduits, substantiall y as described.

2. A system of interior or house conduits consisting of a main and oneor more branch tubes inclosing main and branch conductors in combinationwith electric translating devices, a blower for forcing air through thetubes and means located near the translating devices for regulating theflow of air into the room or rooms where they are located wherebyimproved insulation is efiected in the conduits, substantially asdescribed.

3. A system of interior or house conduits consisting of main andbranchtubes inclosing main and branch conductors in combination with a dynamoelectric machine operatively connected to the main tube and its inclosedconductor, a blower, a steam boiler, an air inlet pipe, a heating tubeand a steam engine adapted to drive both the blower and the dynamowhereby improved insulation is eftected in the conduits, substantiallyas described.

4.. A system of interior or house conduits consisting of a main andbranch tubes inclosing respectively a main and branch conductors,translating devices operatively connected to the branch tubes and theirinclosed conductors, means located near the translating devices forregulating the flow of air, a dynamo electric machine operativelyconnected with the main tube and its inclosed conductor and a blowerhaving connection with an inlet pipe and the main tube, the blower andthe dynamobeing driven by a common source of power whereby improvedinsulation is effected in the conduits, substantially as described.

5. A combined system of interior or house conduits'and air conveyingtubes consisting of main and branch tubes having supplemental or sidetubes which inclose main and branch conductors, said compound tubes be-A ing provided with intervening openings, substantially as described.

6. A combined system of interior or house conduits and ventilating orheating apparatus consisting of compound or double tubes provided withintervening openings, one portion of the compound tubes inclosinginsulated conductors and the other being adapted to convey air underpressure, substantially as described.

7. A combined system of interior or house conduits and ventilating orheating apparatus consisting of double tubes having interveningopenings, substantially as described.

8. A combined ventilating and conduit tube consisting of a main tube forconveying air and a side tube hinged thereto for inclosing an insulatedconductor whereby improved insulation is eftected in the conduits,substantially as described.

9. A combined ventilating and conduit tube consisting of a main tube forconveying air and a side tube inclosing an insulated electricalconductor whereby improved insulation is effected in the conduits,substan tially as described.

10. A pair of conducting conduit tubes, a conducting lug integral witheach tube and an expansible connector detachably secured to each lug,substantially as described.

11. A pair of conducting conduittubes having their ends in alignment andeach provided with a conducting lug and a detachable expansibleconnector secured to said lugs, substantially as described.

12. A pair of conduit tubes having each a conductinglug at its end, incombination with an expansible connector provided with means for unitingit to the adjacent lugs, substantially as described.

13. A dynamo electric machine having its commutator brushes inclosed ina protecting casing, in combination with means controlled by the currentsupply for keeping the casing closed, substantially as described.

14. A dynamo electric machine having its current collecting brusheswholly inclosed by a casing having a door provided with means forlocking it and means controlled by the stantially as described.

15. A dynamo electric machine having its current collecting brushesinclosed in a cas ing provided with a door for affording access to thebrushes, in combination with an electro-magnetic locking device adaptedto lock the door while the machine is in operation, substantially asdescribed.

16. A dynamo electric machine provided with a protecting casing for thecurrent collecting brushes and mechanical connections between the doorand one of the brushes for lifting it out of contact with the commutatorwhen the door is open, in combination with electromagnetic means forkeeping the door locked While the machineis in operation, substantiallyas described.

17. In a system of electrical distribution a series of concentricconductors running from the generator to the translating devices, incombination with a protecting casing which surrounds or incloses thecurrent collecting devices of the generator, whereby the entire systemis rendered safe from accidental shocks, substantially as described.

18. In a system of electrical distribution a current main inclosed inand insulated from a surrounding concentric conducting current main, oneor more translating devices located in one or more concentric branchmains and a protecting casing surrounding the current collectors of thegenerator, substantially as described.

19. In a system of electrical distribution a pair of concentric currentmains insulated from each other and operatively connected throughcurrentcollecting devices with agen' erator of electricity, incombination with a protecting surrounding casing for the currentcollecting devices.

20. A pair of concentric current mains insulated from each other andconnected to the current collecting devices of an electrical generator,in combination with a surrounding protecting casing for the currentcollectors, said casing being provided with a door or other means ofaccess to the current collectors and an electro-magnetic locking deviceadapted to lock the door while the generator is running, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 15th day ofMarch, 1893.

CHARLES J. KINTNER.

lVitnesses:

M. M. ROBINSON, E. W. FITZGERALD.

